RHODES - VILLAGES

Rhodes Town

This beautiful city is is divided into two parts: the medieval Old City, and the New City.

The Old City is surrounded by strong walls and is one of the biggest and best preserved Medieval settlements of Europe. This fortified medieval city is full of buildings testifying to the history of the island, from antiquity, Byzantine times and Middle Ages to Turkish rule. The imposing Palace of the Grand Master, the building of the Colloquium, the beautiful hospital of the Knights, the beautiful inns that were used by the Knights, and the Gothic churches, along with the narrow stone-paved alleyways, the stone arches and apses, the Palace of the Castellan, the various mosques, the plethora of Byzantine churches and the traditional Rhodian houses and the mansions influenced by Venetian and Arab architecture form a magical and unique image.

The New City of Rhodes was constructed when the inhabitants living inside the walls of the Old City built new settlements outside the walls, after the siege of Suleiman the Magnificent (1522). Most of the buildings in this part of the city date from the Italian rule, built in the Neogothic and Venetian architectural style. This has created a particular and charming character to the city, especially in the area of the port of Rhodes. Careful planning, numerous parks and squares and wide streets complete the beautiful aspect of the New City of Rhodes where the tourist, commercial and cultural activities are gathered.

Lindos

The lovely village of Lindos (dominated by a magnificent and imposing acropolis) is one of the most beautiful villages of Rhodes. Lindos stands out for its fabulous location on the slopes of the hill, at the top of which lies the ancient acropolis overlooking the picturesque bay. The village is built amphitheatrically and consists of whitewashed houses with pebble paved courtyards, narrow alleys and buildings influenced by Byzantine, medieval, Arab and Rhodian architecture. Apart from the beautiful acropolis that can be reached by foot or donkey, one of the main attractions of Lindos is the old theatre of the town, carved from a rock, and the Doric sanctuary of Athena Lindia. Various accommodations as well as taverns, cafes and romantic bars can be found in the enchanting Lindos.

Afandou

Afandou is one of the largest villages of Rhodes, surrounded by verdant hills lying south of the island's capital. The name Afandou is believed to have come from the word 'afandos', which means invisible in Greek, because it was built out of sight from the sea, in order to remain unnoticed by the pirates. A lovely square can be found in the heart of the village, surrounded by cafes and bars. A good selection of taverns, restaurants and shops is also available. Afandou village is the center of Rhodes for carpet making and a lot of shops offer the possibility to buy one of these high-quality and fine carpets. It is located half a mile from a beach of the same name which is pure marvel, combining sand and pebbles along with crystalline waters; it spreads for over 2 and a half miles and has been awarded by the EU Blue Flag for its cleanliness. The Church of Our Lady Katholiki (Catholic) is also worth seeing for the beautiful 17th and 18th century frescoes that it hosts.

Archangelos

The attractive village of Archangelos is located south of the City of Rhodes, on the eastern coast of the island. The narrow streets of the village, its picturesque houses and squares and the kindness of its friendly inhabitants charm every visitor. Despite the fact that this village is one of the biggest in Rhodes and has a population of 6000 people, the inhabitants of Archangelos preserve their local customs and traditions; bread is still baked in the traditional wood fired ovens, in the courtyards of the houses, wedding ceremonies are still held according to the traditional way and the idiom of the village is still spoken by many of the inhabitants. The traditional pottery and carpet-making art is still practiced by some of the inhabitants as well as the confection of high leather boots that you will see many of them wearing. The Church of the Archangel Michael dominates the village and has a fine 19th century campanile as well as the Church of Saint John, which houses beautiful frescoes that date back from the 14th century are really worth seeing. Some streets of the village are particularly picturesque because of the traditional houses. Those beautiful houses are painted with vivid colors and have arches and walls beautifully decorated with ceramic plates from the village of Lindos. The castle of Saint John, built by the Knights, is standing on the top of hill about a 10-20 minute walk from the village.

Asklipio

Asklipio is located 40 miles southeast of Rhodes capital. This lovely mountainous village is built amphitheatrically and stands out for its unique natural surroundings. The most important feature of Asklipio is the Medieval Castle, which was built by the Knights of Saint John in the 13th century. The white mass of small traditional houses is a typical example of the folklore architecture. At the center of the village stands a lovely church of Virgin Mary built in 1060 AD and right next to it is the old olive press, which is now a Folklore Museum. During August the village organizes two important festivities, celebrating the Metamorphosis of Sotiros and the Annunciation of Virgin Mary.

Eleoussa

Located 23 miles south of Rhodes Town, Eleoussa is a tiny village set in the middle of a lush green forest. It used to be an Italian settlement with an old Italian sanatorium and an Italian aqueduct on a hill above. The fresh country air and the running water make Eleoussa a nice place for hiking or mountain biking. Many taverns in the region offer delicious meals.

Embonas

This picturesque village is the highest village of Rhodes, south of the capital, at an altitude of 2,700 feet. The high location of the village has kept it almost untouched by tourism and completely unspoiled; some of its inhabitants still wear local costumes and maintain the local customs and traditions. Fine multicolored embroideries are produced in Embonas and are part of the local traditions. Almost all the houses of the village are fine examples of the traditional architecture of Rhodes and are well maintained.

Faliraki

This resort used to be a quiet little fishing village, a few miles south of Rhodes City, but has now become a major tourist resort. Organized beaches with clean waters can be found in front of the resort as well as a plethora of hotels and other kinds of accommodation, clubs, bars, cafes, shops and restaurants. The nightlife in Faliraki goes on all night and the cosmopolitan aspect and atmosphere of the place attracts thousands of visitors during high season.

Genadi

Genadi is a village located 37 miles south of Rhodes town. It is a small settlement with very nice taverns. Aside from the sun, the sea and the homonymous beach, Genadi offers picturesque white-washed houses, the old olive press as well as delicious Greek cuisine. You can wander around the narrow streets and the stairs, which lead to the magnificent Byzantine churches of Ioannis Theologos and Agia Anastasia that were built with the structural material from the wreckage of the Knights Tower. There are various local shops with great souvenirs and handmade objects of folklore art. Genadi barrage with its small lakes in the green scenery and in Prassonisi (Green Island) are only 9 miles away, ideal for those who love to surf.